A recent spat between Sens. Becca Balint and Russ Ingalls exposes the progressive hypocrisy, incivility, and single-minded ideological pathology that results in a dishonest thuggery, most recently inflicted on school children.
Speaker of the Vermont House Jill Krowinsk’s statement was filled with misleading information, baseless claims, and inherent contradictions that undermine the state’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all so she can benefit her own party.
With schools opening up and community spread across the state, I am calling on Governor Scott to take additional steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect Vermonters. We need to be more proactive in following guidance from the CDC.
This shows a nearly 25 percent increase in state spending in just two years. Nearly a billion of the dollars fueling this spree are calculated to go away in 2022. Perhaps more alarming, Klein finished his presentation with two solid pages of text outlining pending needs and requests for funding major new or vastly expanded programs.
Last week, I talked about how the majority in Montpelier is trying to over-regulate contractors and handymen in Vermont. The Democrats and Progressives in the Vermont Legislature are also seeking to impose a brand-new rental registry for all rental properties in the state.
H.157 passed in the state Senate on June 24, 2021, by a vote of 21-9. The purpose of the bill is to mandate that construction contractors register with the state and conform to certain regulatory requirements in order to legally do business on residential homes in Vermont.
The purpose of the vote was to override Governor Scott’s veto of H.227, which amended the charter of the City of Winooski to allow non-citizens who are legally in the United States and full-time residents of the city to vote in city elections.
One wonders if some of Sen. Chris Pearson’s contractor friends will invite him back to their barbeques after he pulls this on them. It should come as no surprise that finding Pearson’s “libertarian streak” is a bit like chasing the elusive Bigfoot.
The smoke and flames should have alerted you that the house is on fire. But, instead of calling the fire department, you sweep up the crumbs, do a load of dishes and grab the fly swatter. That, in a nutshell, is the 2021 legislative session. We didn’t deal with the urgent and immediate issues.
Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed two bills that would have let noncitizen residents of Montpelier and Winooski vote in local elections. However, he signed H.430, which will create a program similar to Dr. Dynasaur so undocumented immigrant children and pregnant woman can obtain health insurance coverage.
Those voting yes believe the bill would encourage and help landlords who own blighted or vacant rental properties to bring them up to code, increasing the overall amount of rental housing available in the state. Those voting no believe this would cripple Vermont’s short-term rental industry, such as Airbnb’s.
The Legislature failed to help in a meaningful way. Only $30 million in relief grant money was allocated for Vermont businesses. ACCD estimated the known unmet need of employers to be $500 million. The Legislature also advanced a $100 million tax on employers.